Senior Army officer, policeman killed in gunfight with Hizbul militants in Kashmir

Srinagar: Two security personnel, including an Army officer, who was awarded a gallantry medal on the occasion of Republic Day, were on Tuesday killed in a fierce gunbattle which also left two Hizbul Mujahideen militants dead in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Col Rai was among the gallantry medal awardees announced on the eve of Republic Day. He was awarded Yudh Seva medal for his role in a gunbattle with militants in south Kashmir last year, the spokesman said.

The encounter broke out today when the police assisted by Rashtriya Rifles of the army launched an operation after getting a tip off that a local Hizbul militant along with another accomplices had come home.